MNN - Mother Nature Network

Gotta love a design firm that manages to inject a bit of irrelevance and eco-commentary into a singular product. Take a look at the line of “John Deere” rugs — as far as I know, they’re not sold through or associated with the iconic Illinois-based tractor company, just inspired by it — designed by Norway's Permafrost.

 

The oversized, 5-foot round rugs are made in Sweden from 100 percent New Zealand wool and are available in tractor-stamped green (grass) and brown (mud). As part of the "Stories" line, Permafrost has also designed a black rug (asphalt?) with human footprints and a white (snow) rug called "Silence" with rabbit tracks.  Says Permafrost:

 

 

Neat. Although these pricey (they retail for over $1,600) designed-in-Norway-made-in-Sweden-from-New Zealand-wool rugs originate from places far away as you can get from rural America (if you’re looking for something “local” look elsewhere), I dig the concept behind them.

 

After all, wouldn’t it be satisfying to get a typical “What a cheeky rug!” compliment and then respond with a “Well, actually, it’s also a comment on the rise industrialized farming practices in rural Scandinavia,” or something like that? Or maybe it's just me. 

 

Via [Dornob], [GreenMuze]